amps, preamps, and integrated amps

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MrLip

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Does anyone know if preamps (stand-alone or the preamps on integrated amplifiers) tend to color sound?

Would it be a bad idea to buy a pair of monitors and power them with an integrated amplifier?

Or do I need to feed my mixer/soundcard output directly to an amplifier without passing thru a preamp (such as the preamp on an integrated amplifier)?
 
Yo Mr. Lips:[][][]

I use a Yam integrated amplifier to run my studio; the amp connects two tape decks, record on one or both and from either one to the other by pushing a button or two; the amp also powers my CD, phono, and has an aux plug or two for "other stuff." The one neat feature of this model Yam integrated amp is it has a PURE THROUGH switch; so, I can run my mix from my MD-8 through EXACTLY as it is tweaked on the recorder - - no coloration from the amp running it pure through. I can also turn off the pure through and use the controls to color up sound but I rarely do this.

The total sound is pretty good.

Depending on how many boxes you want to connect, you might buy an integrated amp and some speakers of choice. But, make sure you get one that will let you hook up a few things! I also have inputs for two sets of speakers on my integrated amp and I like that feature since I use the Alesis I monitors and a pair of Infinity towers. There are better speakers but, hey, how far do you want to spend? Your wallet and ears usually decide.

Need more info? Let me know via my E-mail address as listed herein.

Green Hornet
 
So does that mean that, generally speaking, most preamps or integrated amps will color the sound?

Do most ppl connect their mixer directly to a power amp and connect their other audio equipment (CD players, tape decks, tuners, etc.) to separate preamp/amp?

I was thinking about buying a pair of decent monitors and an integrated amp to power things such as tapes decks, CD players, as well as the output from my soundcard. Is this OK? or will the integrated amp cause sound coloration?

(I'm talking general integrated amps without the 'pure through' switch.)
 
*Every* piece of equipment colors the sound - mics, cable, preamps - the lot. Every bit of equipment you add to the signal chain adds unwanted noise.

So, get equipment that colors the sound in ways you like, and don't add equipment to the signal chain unless it's absolutely necessary.
 
While dobro's opinion is "technically" true, it should be added that Class A type components in audio color the sound so little that you would probably never really notice it. That is the point of paying the $1500 + for it, because it is so "transparent" in the signal path.

If you have a mixing board of some quality, you will have "tape returns" that can be monitored. On my Soundcraft Ghost, I can monitor the mix A, mix B, and two different tape returns or any combination of the above. This is so I can here what the mix at the output of the console sounds like and compare it with how it sounds from the output of a mix down device (tape deck, sound card, etc...). Right now I have the output of my soundcard and the output of my stand alone CD burner on these two monitor circuits.

I really don't think that integrated amps like for home stereo's are the best way to go for doing what you may want to do. A passive line mixer/switcher, meaning something that only has multiple inputs and one output with no volume controls or eq's or anything is more suitable for professional audio. But, if all that you have to do this is a home stereo preamp/power amp type thing, well, you gotta live with it.

Ed
 
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